That's it! Once I play this mod, Pwnzoria is DEFINITELY getting the axe after I'm done purging the world of Erebia!
You're just jealous that your power level isn't that high.
Part VIII
March 17, 2013
Undisclosed Location, Omegia
The assembly that had been gathered consisted of some of the most powerful men and women in Omegia. They were Sean's advisers, heads of various departments, or people without a title, but whose job seemed to mainly consist of things such as going to foreign places and saying things such as, "Now remember,
don't go and use the highly destructive and concealable weapons in the crate over there to overthrow your nation's government.... No, not that crate, the one to the left...."
The only people missing was General Peter, who was off doing important military type business, and Emperor Sean, who was arriving via military jet at a concealed airbase a short distance away at the moment. From the airbase, he would ride in an unmarked truck, that would drive through the mountainous road into a tunnel, where it would branch off and go in a different direction for a few miles, where he would come out of the tunnel in a different unmarked truck, eventually taking him to a valley that, from the air, appeared no different from any other valley in the mountains, though had someone seen the valley from the air, their most pressing concern would not be its appearance, but rather the heat seeking missiles now traveling at high speeds in their direction.
The atmosphere created by all this secrecy seemed to be slightly spoiled when, upon exiting the truck, Sean jovially called out to the men waiting for him, "Ah, Iudas! Very cloak-and-dagger, eh?"
"Indeed sir." The man one would have to assume was named Iudas diplomatically replied. His lack of expression would have won him many rounds of poker.
"Back from all that business in Chrio? What results do we have?"
Iudas shrugged. "They've assembled a decent sized fleet and army. They probably will attempt some kind of naval invasion eventually, though at the moment their soldiers seem to be idling in their cities. Other than the Paladin activity in northern Erebia, it's all quiet."
"Jolly good. Make sure it stays that way." Sean walked down the lines, greeting the people, and engaging in brief conversation.
"Hello, Ms. Rand! How was your visit to Erebia for that economic tour?"
"Yes, I thought that would be your response. Ah, Sutekh!...."
When introductions had been made, a nervous looking scientist politely asked for attention into a microphone. Silence followed shortly after, as the focus of the audience was turned to him.
"Um, thank you all for coming here to this, um, demonstration. As you all know, we have had an.... Um, a team of engineers and scientists working on the potential use of our, *cough*, high powered laser systems for a weaponized purpose ever since we, um, acquired theoretical blueprints for such a design from Bhyu University two years ago...." Iudas nodded slightly at this acknowledgment. "And due to the um, current situation, research on this project has been drastically increased in speed.... What we now have to present is the first fully functional Laser Artillery vehicle."
Behind him, two men pulled a tarp off of what had previously just been a large white lump. The vehicle underneath looked vaguely tank-like, in that it had treads and a barrel. There were more curves and rounded edges than was normal in most tanks, and much more electronic gadgetry.
"Now for an, um, demonstration of the laser artillery."
The researcher gestured at an Omegameister tank off in the distance. The turret of the laser artillery turned towards the tank. There was a brief pause, then a large beam was fired from the turret towards the tank. The tank was virtually disintegrated, and the beam passed unhindered beyond it, hitting a mountain with a large explosion. People ducked as dust billowed down into the valley. When it had all cleared, there was a significantly sized crater in the mountain. The researcher unsteadily stood up.
"We will, of course, have to make some readjustments regarding the strength of the beam...."
Sean placed a hand on the researcher's shoulder. Had his grin grown any larger, it would have threatened to take off the top of his head. "Actually, you know what?" Sean cheerfully said. "I quiet like it the way it is now. We'll start mass producing them as soon as possible."
March 21, 2013
Daniel's Palace, Nagrythe, Erebia
(Thanks to Daniel for this one too)
Daniel watched thoughtfully as the two Cultists battled before him, each clad in their ornate battle armor and wielding their grand glaives with expertise and strength. This time of year brought out his sentimentality. He remembered the first time the representative from the Cult of the Burning Eye, his own personal legion, had come forth and asked for this tradition to begin.
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“My Lord,” he had asked. “Those of us among the ailing and elderly have a request of thee.”
“Speak,” Daniel said.
“The oldest among us, and those who are ailing, feel as though such...inflictions might be signs of our inferiority, our growing weakness.”
At this, Daniel grunted. He did not like what he was hearing. He had a special bond with his guard. All of them had undergone his brutal trials and had lived with a new outlook and a void in their hearts which kept the Beast well fed. They were so far above the countless mortals he toyed with on a day to day basis, that to hear them speak of themselves as weak and inferior...it hurt him deeply.
“Well, what is your solution?” Daniel asked.
The representative looked up and gave a slight smile.
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One guard raised his glaive high above and brought it down with tremendous force. The second knew better than to defend and swung his own glave across the arc of his opponent’s blade, knocking it out of its intended path. The glaive of the first hit the floor and the second guardsmen swung his blade low into the gut of the first. The first guardsmen let go of the glaive with one hand and reached for the arm of the second. He raised his glaive to attack but the second guard took a hand off of his immobilized glaive and intercepted the arm of the first. The two locked eyes as the competition of strength began.
The second guard was losing, and he knew he was. His sickness had depleted his strength a bit, and he knew he stood little chance of winning a competition of strength against his aged opponent. Instead he dropped down onto his back and kicked his legs into the stomach of the first. He then brought his legs up, bringing the first within him and flipping him over. The second quickly turned his glaive about and brought it down into the throat of the first. The first tried to block the attack, but to no avail. The glaive came down straight into the neck. He sputtered, and there was silence.
Though the purple robes concealed his visage, Daniel smiled.
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“Yes, I understand this. You feel that diseases, those in particular that are caused by old age, might be indications of internal weakness?” Daniel asked.
“In a sense, yes. The body does deteriorate. Some within the cult see aging and disease as part of a greater process of natural selection, while others feel they are so far above conventional humanity that they should be above such minor processes. This caused quite a conflict amongst the cultists.”
“But you say you have a solution.” Daniel stated.
“Yes. We have found an infusion of magick and technology which can undo the aging process completely.”
“I see. So this will erase our problems.”
”Not quite my Lord. For you see, it requires a rare ingredient. Too rare, in fact, to keep all of the Cultists who aging permanently young.”
“Do we have a solution to this problem?” Daniel asked, the irritation in his voice hardly well hidden.
The representative smiled.
“Why yes, my Lord.We have a solution which has appeased both camps. It just so happens that the final ingredient we need is...”
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The cultist pulled the glaive from his fallen comrade. He looked up at Daniel, awaiting approval.
“Very well. You have passed your trial, my warrior.”
Behind him, Caine stood up. The oldest member of the Cult of the Burning Eye, Caine was at least two hundred years old, yet looked not a day above 60. He had passed the trials year after year and had become one of the most powerful men in Erebia. Caine walked forward towards the diseased Cultist.
“You have earned your immunity by appealing to a much higher law than nature. Might has deemed you worthy. Take your token.” As he said so, Caine pulled out a small jet black stone cut into the shape of an Octahedron.
The cultist turned and pulled a ritual knife from a sheathe in his calf. Using the blade, he cut into the fallen cultist’s chest and proceeded to tear out his heart. Caine walked over and handed the cultist the Octahedron.
“You know what comes next.”
The cultist nodded. He placed the jet black stone into gap where his fallen comrade’s heart once rested. The stone immediately began to mold itself into the shape of a human heart and attached itself into the valves of the dead cultist. The diseased cultist picked up the body and was escorted by a Clandestine out of the room and into the hallway. The two walked for a few hours as he navigated the labyrinthine palace into the rebirth chamber. The Clandestine opened the door for the Cultist, who nodded and walked in.
In the room was a large metal table with a dozen or so needles poised above it, all attached to mechanical arms. To the left was a large glass cylinder in a complex machine tied directly to the needles. The cultist laid the body to rest on the metal slab and began to inject the needles into various points on the dead cultist’s body, mostly in the veins. Satisfied with the arrangement, the cultist then accessed the computer terminal and started the process. He stripped off his armor and stepped into the vat. The cylinder’s timing system closed the glass and sealed it tight. Water gradually began to fill the vat. When the water reached chest level, the water ceased to flow. The needles activated, and it sucked out what little blood was left in the fallen cultist along with a strange black fluid that had entered the deceased’s system through the black stone.
The blood and fluid entered the top of the cylinder and filled the tank, discoloring the water like ink. Gradually the needles placed in the deceased’s spine activated and drained the spinal fluid and most of the liquid portions of the nervous system. They all mixed into a foul smelling concoction which caused the water level to rise. Eventually the entire tank was filled to the top with water and the liquid remains of the deceased, who was now little better than a mummy. The diseased cultist slept well. Within a few short hours, he would be alive again, and ready to live another full life time in service to Lord Daniel and to Satan.
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“Amazing. Magnificent. Poetic!” Daniel exclaimed as the representative finished explaining the process.
“Yes. The strong live, and the weak shall die. But always will the warrior brethren of old be with us.”
It had been ages since Daniel had cried. A single sulfur tear fell from his cheek, but the darkness of the cloak obscured what little humanity was left in him.
March 26, 2013
In Front of Iustitian Congress building, Lanshine, Iustitia
President Kari tried to keep her eyes open from the flash of the cameras. She hadn't quite expected the intensity of the applause that had followed her speech. Then again, after nearly three months of constant bad news from the front lines, that any good news, even something as small as this.
The Erebians had been pounding Fort Tallen. Day after day, they kept attacking, sending hordes of soldiers at the defenses. The numbers they had available for the attack was incredible. With casualties on the Iustitian side steadily growing, and more and more Erebian troops coming from the south, it had appeared inevitable until the defenses were worn down.
Kari had thought, for a brief time, that her country wouldn't be able to take it. With hundreds of casualties a day, and no discernible gains, she had believed that her people would demand the end of the war.
But instead, they had fought back with more fervor than before. Bomber planes flew day and night, trying to make a dent in the Erebian numbers. Soldiers had fought valiantly at Fort Tallen, holding off the waves of enemies with their blood.
Then, the night before, as the Erebians were nursing their wounds from another failed attack, the Iustitians had struck back. The Erebian army had been forced into full retreat as Iustitian tanks overwhelmed them. The victory had been total.
In the end, all that had been achieved was securing the area directly around Fort Tallen. But the Erebians had been defeated, and even now, more soldiers were being sent to the front lines to prepare for another attack.
March 29, 2013
Governor's Mansion, Occupied Ashtyre, Omegia
The ranks of Omegian soldiers marched down the main street, as General Peter watched from the balcony of the governor's mansion. The city had fallen easily. The Arigos League had squandered most of their soldiers on the futile invasions, leaving just a single division of infantry, and a scattered few police forces left to defend the city. After the artillery bombardment and air bombing missions on the cities barracks, most of the defenders had surrendered on sight. Even the citizens had shown little resistance. They seemed almost too shocked to act, as if they couldn't believe that the soldiers marching in front of them were real.
There had of course been some resistance from the citizens, though most of it had stopped since the executions. Three Arigosians who had tried assassinating Peter, and two Omegian soldiers who had decided they had the right of conquest to rob and kill a civilian were all publicly executed together. Peter made sure that it was clear that, under Omegian rule, any breach of the law would be met with swift, fair, and quick justice. There had been much grumbling amongst the Arigosians at the execution of their citizens, but Peter was fine with grumbling, so long as they didn't go beyond that. Give him just a few more weeks, to root out some of the more violent resistors, and make it clear to the populace that Omegia had no plans of massacring and/or enslaving the people, and he would have the city fully working again.
An adjutant from within the building called his attention. "We have the Emperor onscreen sir. He wishes to speak with you."
When Peter reached the communications room, Sean was already speaking with Coeus.
"-soon send the equipment to study the nearby impact site. Hello, General Peter."
Peter saluted. "Mi'lord."
"At ease. I called to inform you that I am sending over another military governor to take control of the domestic matters of the city. I need you to take the army and capture the island of Rii."
"But sir!" Peter protested. "I need the soldiers here to quell the resistance movements! I just need some more running the city to ease its transition to an Omegian city!"
Sean nodded. "I understand your concern. But Peter, while you are a decent governor under martial law, I need your skills as an exceptional general right now. And we need to take Rii quickly. According to Iudas, the Arigosians spent most of their soldiers in the invasions they sent at us. Rii is even less defended than Ashtyre was. We need to capture those cities before they have a chance to replenish their losses. Besides, we can't let Hikaro get all the city capturing glory on the Stories & Tales forum."
Peter's brow furrowed in confusion. "Sir?"
"Nothing. There's also a new type of artillery that ordering airlifted to you. They should arrive with the new governor. When they do, I'll expect the invasion fleet to set off as soon as possible."
Peter saluted again. "Yes sir."
April 2, 2013
In other news, the book "The Omegian Revolution" was published on this day. In addition, another field army was formed in Austin (Yes. I have two of them now. This is going to be fun.
)